Author: On Common Ground News

County government pushes to recruit more women    Top, L-R:Deputy Fire Chief Marian McDaniel, Kc Krizic, director of planning and development; Sue Sanders, director of Parks and Recreation and Facilities Bottom L-R: Roselyn Miller,  finance directo;, Jennifer Rutledge, County Clerk, director of legislative affairs; Toni Holmes, director of Talent Management Women and minorities are increasingly breaking barriers in Rockdale County, filling top-tier and other positions that historically have lacked diversity. Currently, six women serve among the county’s 12 directors and five serve among Rockdale’s 12 deputy directors. Rockdale County Chairman Oz Nesbitt says that while workforce diversity remains a work in progress, he is proud of…

This Old House By Sarita Mason OCG News Intern Denise Williams instantly recalled the rich wood scent that filled the Lyon home where she grew up. “The house still smells just like it did when I was a little girl,” said Williams. Williams, the niece of George and Betty Lyon, the couple who lived in the house for over 20 years, traveled back in time as she walked through the house for the first time in years. Williams was among several descendants of the Lyon family who visited on May 31 to witness the dedication of the 150-year-old home…

Grady Smith, Principal of vhb, fields questions from attendees at the open house held at theStonecrest Library. South DeKalb County residents had a chance to view three potential MARTA transit options at the June 5 open house, which was held at the Stonecrest Library branch. The meeting was one of several being held across the county as the public provides input for DeKalb’s comprehensive transit plan. Grady Smith, principal of vhb, the consulting firm DeKalb County government has hired to develop the county’s comprehensive transit plan, told attendees that he will spend the month of June presenting the transit…

DeKalb County Superior Court Clerk and Tyler Technologies are hosting a series of free CLE lunch and learn training sessions on re:SearchGA beginning on Friday, June 14, 12 to 1 p.m. at the DeKalb County Courthouse, 556 North McDonough Street, Decatur. “We are excited to provide simple and secure access to court documents for the legal community to all courts in DeKalb County,” stated Clerk Debra DeBerry. “Launching re:SearchGA puts us in compliance with Senate Bill 407’s mandate for online access to court records. Our courts are also Tyler Odyssey clients, so those using the portal will have access to…

ALEXANDRIA, VA – Today, Congressman Hank Johnson (GA-04), chair of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, and the Internet, delivered the keynote address at the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) forum on brand protection and anti-counterfeiting strategies. The free, all-day conference brought together policymakers, practitioners, and business owners interested in learning about policies and strategies to more effectively combat counterfeit goods. More than two dozen experts in the fields of brand protection and anti-counterfeiting took in-depth look at such topics as: Fighting counterfeits in a global market; Utilizing new technologies to protect brands; Enlisting allies in…

Members of the Greater Hidden Hills Community Development Corporation (GHHCDC), in partnership with DeKalb County Super District 7 Commissioner Lorraine Cochran-Johnson, elevated their anti-litter campaign by sporting trash costumes during their June 1 cleanup. The Saturday cleanup marked the culmination of the “Your Community, Your Litter—Pick It Up! campaign, which was launched in March by GHHCDC and Cochran-Johnson. Volunteers who donned the costumes waved and held up colorful signs with anti-litter messages to get the attention of motorists and pedestrians at the intersection of Covington Highway and South Hairston Road in South DeKalb. The goal was to call attention to…

By Judge Clarence Cuthpert, Jr. | Rockdale Probate Judge In 2018, the Georgia Legislature enacted legislation entitled the Strengthening Families Act. Pursuant to this Act, by executing a Power of Attorney for Temporary Delegation of Caregiving Authority to an Agent (“power of attorney”), a parent of a minor child may place the child with a grandparent, great-grandparent, stepparent or former stepparent, step-grandparent, aunt or uncle, great aunt or uncle, cousin, sibling, or a nonrelative who is approved as an agent by a child-placing agency or a non-profit entity or faith-based organization. If the parents are not married, the non-custodial parent…

The Stone Mountain Sue-Kellogg Library will close for renovation on June 15. The renovation will include an updated floor plan, updated finishes, new furniture and restrooms. The work will be completed by C.T. Darnell Construction and is expected to take six to nine months. The Stone Mountain-Sue Kellogg branch is the first of three libraries in District 4 that will get an upgrade. Clarkston and Covington branch renovations are pending for scheduling, officials said.  DeKalb County Commissioner Steve Bradshaw, who represents District 4, said the county has allocated $1.5 million for the Sue Kellogg branch renovation.   “I am eager for…

DeKalb County crews will begin work in July on a $20 million project that will replace seven miles of 60-to-100-year-old water pipes in the Briarcliff and North Decatur areas. DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond said replacing the old infrastructure would resolve reported low water pressure issues in the areas. “Resolving water pressure issues in the Briarcliff and North Decatur area is a top priority for DeKalb County government,” Thurmond said. “DeKalb County is committed to fixing these longstanding problems and has directed significant resources to get the job done.” The project will include the installation of more than one mile…

Join Congressman Hank Johnson, who represents Georgia’s Fourth District, for a Twitter Town Hall on Friday, June 14, 2 p.m., on twitter.com. The virtual town hall meeting will allow community stakeholders an opportunity to tweet in their concerns regarding a variety of issues ranging from healthcare to student loans. Tune into the town hall discussion by following @RepHankJohnson and tweet your questions to #AskHank.